Exaltation in temporal lobe epilepsy: neuropsychiatric symptom or portal to the divine?
Niall McCrae, Rob Whitley
Journal of Medical Humanities September 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s10912-014-9294-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that secular empiricism in psychiatry and neurology pathologizes religious experiences in epilepsy, and that a holistic approach incorporating theology could advance understanding of consciousness. |
Abstract
Religiosity is a prominent feature of the Geschwind syndrome, a behavioural pattern found in some cases of temporal lobe epilepsy. Since the 1950s, when Wilder Penfield induced spiritual feelings by experimental manipulation of the temporal lobes, development of brain imaging technology has revealed neural correlates of intense emotional states, spurring the growth of neurotheology. In their secular empiricism, psychiatry, neurology and psychology are inclined to pathologise deviant religious expression, thereby reinforcing the dualism of objective and phenomenal worlds. Considering theological perspectives and the idea of cosmic consciousness, the authors urge a holistic approach to the spiritual events of epileptic aura, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of the mind and its transcendent potential.
Citations in the library
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and 5 more in the library